Angered by Cousin's Cell Phone Bill: My Husband's Dilemma

[Chef_2_Four]

My husband against his better judgement got a cell phone for his 18 y/o cousin for taking the SATs (which we paid for) and never took as an incentive. well he told him last month to cut back because he went way over in minutes. as in used as much as me and I use my for the business too. So I get the bill today and he used almost 2000 minutes!!! I am so mad I could spit nails! I used 1100 and all the ones I was billed for where for the job!! I was billed $77 not bad since I can claim part of it on taxes. His part $150!!! My MIL said make him pay for it which I agree but the agreement between him and DH was to pay$20 each month for the bill. He still owes for Aug and we just got the Jul payment last week. He is supposed to pay on the first of the month. I am going to call Att tomorrow and see how much it would be to break the contract because I am not going through this every month!!! sorry for the vent!! i had to get it out and Wesley is helping another cousin do her homework.

 

[yummybytes]

I would take the phone away from him, hand him a $20 Virgin mobile prepay phone and say have fun - you're responsible for filling it up. He can buy cards at Target or Walmart with cash and there's no harm to your credit or his. We use them b/c we don't use cells unless its an emergency and its dumb for us to pay $50 a month for 15 minutes of use.

 

[Gina M]

I agree with you Jenn - I have a cell phone where I just buy minutes and it's been much cheaper in the long run. I actually use all the minutes up (eventually - it takes me a long time since I prefer my home phone to make calls )and don't get a phone bill every month.

 

[Chef_2_Four]

updatewell I told Wesley when he got home. he was livid. we just told him last month not to use it so much. he had 800 minutes so what does he do....it is $175 to cancel the contract, we don't have that so we are going to make him pay $170 that he owes us and we are taking the phone and are going to pay the $10 every month until the cost to break the contract is less. that'll teach my husband!! never give a child a cell phone!! haha!! well at least an irresponsible child.